LG begins mass production of 5G smart telematics solution

South Korea’s LG Electronics has begun mass production of its next-generation 5G Release 16 (R16)-based smart telematics solution, which integrates a communications module and (up to) 12 antennas into a single unit. LG has already commenced deliveries to a premium European automaker, marking the solution’s first deployment in a production vehicle in Europe, according to a media release.

Conventional vehicle communication systems typically rely on separate physical components: a telematics control unit and an externally mounted shark-fin antenna. Due to the ongoing expansion of vehicle connectivity capabilities, the number of antennas required to support the necessary communication technologies has steadily risen.

LG’s smart telematics solution integrates the communications module and multiple antennas into a single unit. Built on 5G R16 communications technology, the solution has an optimized internal architecture capable of housing up to 12 antennas. This increased capacity helps reduce reliance on externally mounted antennas and cut down on RF cabling. Critically, the solution enables vehicles to maintain strong connectivity performance, while also contributing to improved structural efficiency, the media release said.

The solution also incorporates a scalable software platform designed to support deployment across diverse vehicle models.  

More than a component-level innovation, LG’s smart telematics solution shifts vehicle communications architecture from a distributed antenna structure to an integrated communications platform.  

“Our smart telematics solution goes beyond hardware integration to redefine the underlying architecture of vehicle communications,” said Eun Seok-hyun, president of the LG Vehicle Solution Company. “Leveraging its accumulated expertise in communications technologies and software, LG will continue to deliver integrated telematics solutions optimized for the SDV era.”